FAQ: What's happened, what's next in Facebook killer case

Wednesday

Apr 19, 2017 at 5:38 AM

Steve Stephens' suicide in his car in Erie during a police stop Tuesday morning ended the hunt for the man known as the Facebook killer, but a number of questions have yet to be resolved about his time on the run.

Madeleine O'Neill @ETNONeill

What we know about the Facebook killer as of Tuesday night:

Cleveland homicide suspect Steve Stephens, who is accused of fatally shooting an elderly stranger Sunday and posting video of the slaying to Facebook, shot himself in the head with a handgun Tuesday morning when his car was forced to a stop after a pursuit by state police. The chase ended near Buffalo Road and Downing Avenue.
Stephens was driving the white Ford Fusion with temporary Ohio plates authorities had asked members of the public to look for after the shooting, in which 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. was killed.
Stephens was known to be a gambler and was last known to visit Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Summit Township in March. He had not visited the casino since the Sunday shooting, a spokeswoman said Tuesday.
State police in Erie responded to a number of tips from the public in the days before Stephens killed himself, but none were substantiated.
Employees at a McDonald's in Harborcreek Township called state police after a cashier recognized a man at the drive-through as Stephens. Police have said a "concerned citizen" called in the sighting at McDonald's.

What we still don't know

State police said Tuesday that Stephens' whereabouts before the chase are still being investigated. When he arrived in Erie, and for how long he was in the area, is unknown.
State police said they did not believe Stephens had any accomplices, but were not aware of whether he had any connections or relatives in the Erie area. Investigators plan to "backtrack" his movements.
Numerous reports have stated that a "ping" from Stephens' cell phone came from the Erie area during the manhunt. But state police said they had no knowledge of such a ping.
Whether anyone will receive a reward for providing information that allowed law enforcement to identify Stephens is not clear.